Grove wins Lilac
Russell Grove figured if he kept putting himself in contention at these big tournaments in the Northwest, eventually it would pay off in victory.
That day was Sunday at the 50th Lilac Invitational, where the Avondale Golf Club pro charged from three strokes back on the final day to win the 72-hole tournament by three shots at The Fairways Golf Course at West Terrace near Cheney.
"That course, if you get hot and hit it in the right spots, there's a low number out there," said Grove, who shot an 8-under-par 64 on the final day to finish at 18-under 270. "It was just a matter of being patient."
Grove had nine birdies and one bogey on Sunday, one of the birdies a slippery 8-foot downhill putt on 18.
"I didn't know if I had to make it, or two-putt, so I figured I'd try to make it," said Grove, the former Coeur d'Alene High and University of Idaho star.
Playing in the third-to-last group on Sunday, Grove said he sort of had an idea where he stood in the tournament, though he admitted he tried not to pay too much attention to the leaderboard.
He new Corey Prugh of Spokane, playing in the final group, was his closest contender at a few strokes back. Prugh shot a final-round 69 for a 15-under 273.
Amateur Hank Frame of Spokane, the defending champion, and third-round leader Jason Humphrey of Coos Bay, Ore., tied for third at 275. Frame shot 70 on Sunday, Humphrey 72.
Grove, 27, said he knew things were looking good after he birdied 10 for his fifth birdie of the day. But then he bogeyed 11, and "thought I lost two shots there" to the field.
But he bounced back with birdies at 12, 14 and 15 to take control of the tournament.
"I made all my short putts," Grove said. "I made everything inside 6 feet, and hit some good approach shots. I didn't do anything special; I think my longest putt was 10 feet."
Grove said he had fared well in other big tourneys in the Northwest, including a fourth at the Northwest Open at Wine Valley in Walla Walla, and a second at the Tri-Cities Open last week, along with several other top-10 finishes.
"I knew if I put myself in position enough times, I'd figure it out eventually," Grove said. "Looking back at those rounds, I had my worst days on Sunday, so it was nice to play well on Sunday today."
Grove had 29 putts on Sunday, and said he missed just one green in regulation.
Next up for Grove is the Rosauers Open in Spokane, which starts Friday. That is, after he plays in today's Inland Empire PGA pro-am, which just happens to be at Avondale.